The Matthes tax increase proposal also ignores an important fact: How much cash City Hall has on deposit with banks and other institutions.

In 208 numbered savings accounts, city government held an astonishing $300 million as of September 2015, up a mind-boggling 20% from the same period in 2014 (CAFR, Table 13, Page 201).

That figure does not include another $121 million in retirement, healthcare, and insurance savings accounts.

Using the Columbia Missourian as a trial balloon, Matthes floated the tax hike proposal in a story that portrays city leaders wringing their hands about an old foe: sales tax losses to the Internet.

Unless Congress taxes Internet sales -- highly unlikely in the current political environment -- City Hall will have to ask for a property tax hike, Matthes insisted, calling it "the one thing I could wish for that the community could really, profoundly understand."

"As a servant to the community, I have to put (a tax increase) back on there again and ask the question, 'Do you want more officers or not? If you do, here’s a way to do it,''' Matthes told the Missourian. Fifth Ward Councilwoman Laura Nauser said she backs the Matthes tax hike. "Police and firefighters protect property and lives, so I think it makes sense to increase our property taxes," she said.